Posted by (+15535) 11 years ago
Dear President Obama:
Given what I have seen in the current election cycle, you are my preferred candidate. I am, however, concerned about the tone of your campaign and your unnecessary preoccupation with Mr. Romney. Left to their own devices, the republican party will self-destruct. I would like to encourage you to take a different tactic and go on offense. The facts, sir, are on your side.
A major factor in creating jobs is demand. The 1% who have enjoyed many years of tax-breaks are not investing their economic resources in this economy. They are sitting on their profit. Thus, a responsible government should take charge of this situation and create demand by spending money on three important areas; education, research, and infrastructure.
According to the CBO, our spending on infrastructure is 2.4% of GDP. Our competitor nations are spending 2 to 3 times this amount of money. China is currently spending 9% of GDP on infrastructure. Let's begin replacing worn roads, bridges, water systems, flood control structures, and electrical systems. Programs that focus on infrastructure will help create the demand for all sorts of goods and services and will revive our economy.
According to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, the United States was ranked 1st in college graduations in the 1970's. As of 2009, we are ranked 14th. Investing in the education of the next generation is something that we should be doing. There is no reason that our children should be graduating from college with $50,000 to $100,000 dollars in debt. We cannot compete in a world economy if we don't have the best educated people.
In 2009, research was half the share of GDP that is was in 1960. Annual growth for research and development spending - private and public - was 5.8 percent between 1996 and 2007; in South Korea it was 9.6?percent; in Singapore, 14.5 percent; in China, 21.9?percent.
Over the last 30 years, our there has been a shift in our economy. This shift is NOT, as republicans claim, due to increases in taxes and regulation. Rather, it is due to our failure to invest in human and physical capital.
Mr. President, I want to encourage you to refocus your campaign on a vision of two futures; one where we invest in ourselves and a retooling of our infrastructure to compete in a grobal economy, and one where we fail to do those things and simply continue to try cutting the expenses of social programs,hope that the 1% will finally spend some of their money and create a little demand, and reward their own selfish greed with tax-cuts. Please use the bully-pulpit of your position to educate America on why investing in human and physical capital, with such low interest rates is such a responsible course of action.
I would also like to see you propose some reform to your healthcare act. I believe that NOW is the time to simplify and reform this system into a single-payer healthcare system. Let's have the government focus on one thing, being the single payer for medical costs and stay out of the healthcare end of things. The Australian medicare system could serve as a great model for what our system should look like.
Sir, if you will champion these ideas in a fresh and bold manner, we the people will support you in your effort. You don't need to rely on half-truths and weak arguments. Please be bold and relentless in making your case. You will render republicans irrelevant and win in a landslide. Thank you for your time.
Richard Bonine, Jr.
Gillette, WY
Given what I have seen in the current election cycle, you are my preferred candidate. I am, however, concerned about the tone of your campaign and your unnecessary preoccupation with Mr. Romney. Left to their own devices, the republican party will self-destruct. I would like to encourage you to take a different tactic and go on offense. The facts, sir, are on your side.
A major factor in creating jobs is demand. The 1% who have enjoyed many years of tax-breaks are not investing their economic resources in this economy. They are sitting on their profit. Thus, a responsible government should take charge of this situation and create demand by spending money on three important areas; education, research, and infrastructure.
According to the CBO, our spending on infrastructure is 2.4% of GDP. Our competitor nations are spending 2 to 3 times this amount of money. China is currently spending 9% of GDP on infrastructure. Let's begin replacing worn roads, bridges, water systems, flood control structures, and electrical systems. Programs that focus on infrastructure will help create the demand for all sorts of goods and services and will revive our economy.
According to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, the United States was ranked 1st in college graduations in the 1970's. As of 2009, we are ranked 14th. Investing in the education of the next generation is something that we should be doing. There is no reason that our children should be graduating from college with $50,000 to $100,000 dollars in debt. We cannot compete in a world economy if we don't have the best educated people.
In 2009, research was half the share of GDP that is was in 1960. Annual growth for research and development spending - private and public - was 5.8 percent between 1996 and 2007; in South Korea it was 9.6?percent; in Singapore, 14.5 percent; in China, 21.9?percent.
Over the last 30 years, our there has been a shift in our economy. This shift is NOT, as republicans claim, due to increases in taxes and regulation. Rather, it is due to our failure to invest in human and physical capital.
Mr. President, I want to encourage you to refocus your campaign on a vision of two futures; one where we invest in ourselves and a retooling of our infrastructure to compete in a grobal economy, and one where we fail to do those things and simply continue to try cutting the expenses of social programs,hope that the 1% will finally spend some of their money and create a little demand, and reward their own selfish greed with tax-cuts. Please use the bully-pulpit of your position to educate America on why investing in human and physical capital, with such low interest rates is such a responsible course of action.
I would also like to see you propose some reform to your healthcare act. I believe that NOW is the time to simplify and reform this system into a single-payer healthcare system. Let's have the government focus on one thing, being the single payer for medical costs and stay out of the healthcare end of things. The Australian medicare system could serve as a great model for what our system should look like.
Sir, if you will champion these ideas in a fresh and bold manner, we the people will support you in your effort. You don't need to rely on half-truths and weak arguments. Please be bold and relentless in making your case. You will render republicans irrelevant and win in a landslide. Thank you for your time.
Richard Bonine, Jr.
Gillette, WY
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